MLA Hon. Naomi Yamamoto North Vancouver-Lonsdale Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations

Dearest Heavenly Father, as the representative for the people of North Vancouver-Longsdale and as Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations, we thank You for Your wisdom in bringing MLA the Honourable Naomi Yamamoto to the Legislature for such a time as this. Thank you for blessing Minister Yamamoto with intelligence and a willingness to serve. We pray You will guide her decision-making and ask that You would surround her with people who will encourage her, support her and who will give her advice that lines up with Your plan. May she sense Your hand upon her and may she know that she is appreciated. We ask this in Jesus' name.

Naomi Yamamoto was elected as MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale in the 2009 general provincial election and was appointed Minister of State for intergovernmental Relations in June 2009.

Minister Yamamoto had been the president and owner of Tora Design Group in North Vancouver for 21 years. She also enjoyed working with the business community as the president and general manager of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce.

She also served on the board of the North Shore Credit Union and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and was president of the Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation. As well, she represented the North Vancouver Chamber on the North Shore 2010 Spirit Committee and Vancouver’s North Shore Tourism Association Board.

In 1997, Minister Yamamoto served as chair of the BC Chamber of Commerce. She completed a six-year term on the board of Capilano College, with the last three years as chair. She also enjoyed six years as a director of the North Shore Neighbourhood House.

In 2005, Naomi was appointed as an inaugural member of the Premier’s Small Business Roundtable.

In her role as Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations, Naomi Yamamoto is also the Premier’s representative to the Pacific North West Economic Region.

MLA John van Dongen Member for Abbotsford South

Dear God, we thank You that we can come before You today knowing that You will always hear and answer our prayers. We bring before You today, MLA John van Dongen who is serving as the Government Caucus Whip, and was elected for Abbotsford- South riding. We thank You God for placing a seasoned man in this difficult job of a watchman and we ask that You continue to give him wisdom and understanding as he represents BC citizens. We ask that You cover Mr. van Dongen with health and good family relations for many years to come.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

John van Dongen was re-elected as MLA to serve the new riding of Abbotsford-South in the spring of 2009.

John was first elected in 1995 in a by-election to represent the riding of Abbotsford and was re-elected in 1996, 2001, and 2005.

Mr. van Dongen currently serves as the Government Caucus Whip.

Mr. van Dongen has served as the Solicitor General and Minister of Public Safety. He has also served as Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations and as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. He has also been a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Social Development. For the past several years, John served on the Hospital Construction Committee for the new Abbotsford Hospital and Cancer Centre.

Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. van Dongen operated a dairy farm in Abbotsford. He studied agricultural economics at the University of British Columbia.

Mr. van Dongen was involved in farm organizations and businesses for almost two decades. He was on the board of directors of the B.C. Dairy Foundation, Agrifoods International Co-operative (Dairyland) the B.C. Federation of Dairymen's Association and the Federal Farm Debt Review Board.

He was Chair of the Building and Finance Committee of St. Joseph's Church in Mission. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is the father of two sons and has one granddaughter.

MLA Claire Trevena Member for North Island

Dear Lord , as we come before Your Throne of Grace, to pray for Claire, we pray she will know and feel Your help and love today as she fulfills the many tasks this day may bring. We thank you for her heart of care for others shown in the work she has done in establishing and supporting community kitchens, as well as environmental initiatives undertaken in her riding. In her position now as MLA. we pray You will bless her with keen perception of the needs of N. Island, and that her voice will be heard as she raises concerns for the good and wise changes that will benefit her constituents.  May Your Grace abound in her daily work and in her family life . May Claire be blessed with good health , safety and happiness.

Claire Trevena was first elected in May 2005 and was re-elected on May 12, 2009.

Claire is a former journalist, community activist and human rights worker.

In the early 1990s, Claire came to Canada as the BBC's Canadian correspondent.

Awarded the Canadian Civilian Peacekeeping Medal, she's worked on democratic development projects overseas and in Canada.

Claire was an active trade unionist in her professional life. Since moving to BC she has been involved in a number of community initiatives, including a weekly community kitchen on Quadra Island as well as various environmental initiatives.

She was elected to the board of the Quadra Community Association and held a seat on the Regional District of Comox Strathcona Regional Area J Advisory Planning Committee.

Prior to the 2005 election, Claire ran a small communications business on Quadra Island with her husband, Mike McIvor.

MLA Jane Thornthwaite Member for North Vancouver - Seymour

Dearest Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wisdom in bringing MLA Jane Thornthwaite to the Legislature as a represenative for the people of North Vancouver-Seymour. Thank You for the special talents and experiences Jane has to offer. We ask that You keep Your hand upon her, giving her wisdom, encouragement and special favour as she seeks to serve her constituents well. Strengthen her spirit and her resolve and bring times of refreshing when she needs it most. Bless her and her family with good health and may they have quality time to spend together in spite of busy schedules. We ask this in Jesus' name.

Jane Thornthwaite was elected MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour in the 2009 general provincial election.

Since 2005, Jane was a School Trustee for the North Vancouver Board of Education and topped the polls in both the 2005 and 2008 municipal elections. She was elected Chair of the North Vancouver Board of Education in December 2008 and resigned from the Board June 2009 after being elected to the Legislature.

Previously, Jane was a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (B.Sc., B.H.E.) with a 22-year career in health care. Jane’s work experience includes positions in hospital dietetics and community health, an instructor for a third year required Nutrition course at UBC, a Corporate Nutritionist for an international Health Food Chain and a National Sales Representative for an international pharmaceutical firm.

Her writing has been published in a wide variety of publications and she has been a guest presenter and lecturer at numerous colleges and universities.

As a former self-employed health consultant, Jane has experience operating a small business and supporting a family as a mother of three kids.

Jane has an extensive volunteer career on the North Shore and has lived in North Vancouver for over 19 years.

MLA Diane Thorne Member for Coquitlam - Maillardville

Heavenly Father, we pray for Diane Thorne today. We ask that You will bless her and continue to give her wisdom in her area of responsibility within our province. We thank You for her influence in working with and having a voice for the women of our province. We ask that You will bless her with insight to be even more affective in this area. We ask You will give her favour and bless her, her family and staff as they have a break over the summer.

Diane Thorne was re-elected as the MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville on May 12, 2009. She was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.

Diane serves as deputy opposition critic for Education, Early Learning and Literacy.

Diane served on Coquitlam council from 1996 to 2005, bringing considerable experience in business and social services to the political arena. Diane and her husband Neil have owned and operated several successful small businesses.

Diane has been extensively involved in a wide cross-section of women's issues over the past 35 years. She served on the board of directors of the B.C./Yukon Women's Centres Association and spent several years as the province's representative on the National Action Committee on the Status of Women.

In 1993, Diane received the BC Distinguished Service to Families Award and in 1992, the Canada 125 medal. She was a founding member of the PoCoMo Youth Services Society, the Family Life Educators of BC and the Fraser Burrard Restorative Justice Society. Diane studied liberal arts at several community colleges and Simon Fraser University. Diane and Neil live locally and have two adult sons, Jay and Lee.

MLA Hon Steve Thomson Kelowna-Mission Minister of Agriculture and Lands

Heavenly Father, we uplift the Honorable. Steve Thomson to You. We thank You Lord for all the experience he has had to bring him to the place of being entrusted to be the Minister of Agriculture and Lands. But we realize that since all wisdom comes from You, that Mr. Thomson senses Your presence at work around him and through him as he carries on his responsibilities today. Bless him, Father, as a husband, father, grandfather, farmer and business owner. Amen.

Steve Thomson was appointed Minister for Agriculture and Lands on June 10, 2009. He was elected to represent the riding of Kelowna-Mission on May 12, 2009.

Born and raised in Kelowna, Steve comes from a pioneer family who continue to operate the original family farm established in 1896.

Steve is the former executive director of the BC Agriculture Council and has developed his career and experience working on behalf of British Columbia farmers and ranchers. He has served as General Manager of the BC Fruit Growers Association and the BC Milk Producers Association.

He has been selected for many leadership roles and advisory positions dedicated to the continuous improvement of our province. Steve brings to his role of MLA for Kelowna Mission extensive leadership expertise, experience in economic development and a clear understanding of how to get things done in government. He has served the community and province as president of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and chair of the BC Chamber of Commerce and has represented those organizations and others on provincial government task forces focused on red tape reduction and small business development.

He has also served as a director of the Kelowna Museum, the Okanagan Innovation Fund and the BC BioEnergy Network.

He has a great love of sports and had a long career in rugby including the opportunity to play for the Canadian National Rugby Team. Current interests include golf, gardening and being an ardent rugby fan.

Steve is a husband, father and grandfather. He is married to Brenda and has three children and five grandchildren.

MLA Ralph Sultan Member for West Vancouver-Capilano

Dear Lord: We lift Ralph up to You in prayer and ask that as we do he feel that he is supported and appreciated. Help him to see the value he brings to his work with his talents and experience. When conflicts arise, of whatever nature, may he see the path to forward movement and reconciliation. Amen.

Ralph Sultan was elected to the BC Legislature to represent the riding of West Vancouver-Capilano in 2001, 2005 and 2009. He has served on the Government Caucus Committee for the Economy and the Legislature's Public Accounts Committee, and the Caucus Liaison for the Ministry of Finance. Ralph previously served as the Chair for the Government Caucus Committee for the Economy and the B.C. Mining Task Force.

Ralph is an economist, educator and businessperson who also maintains registration as a professional engineer (P.Eng.). Prior to attending university, he worked as a tree faller, as a lineman on the construction of the Kemano-Kitimat transmission line, as surveyor's helper on the Lillooet and Bridge River hydroelectric projects, and was an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers permit member.

Graduating from UBC in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Ralph worked as a technical sales representative for a major international company before earning MBA, MA, and Ph.D. (Economics) degrees from Harvard University. He completed those degrees in 1965. He then served as Assistant and Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University, for nine years. He was then employed by The Royal Bank of Canada for almost ten years as Chief Economist; then Senior Vice President, Marketing in Montreal, and subsequently Senior Vice President, Global Energy and Minerals Group in Calgary. He was retained by the J. W. McConnell Foundation, Canada's largest philanthropic fund, as investment advisor.

In 1974 and 1975 Harvard University Press published his two-volume study of price fixing in the electrical industry.

Between 1980 and 2000, Ralph held senior officer and director positions in a variety of financial, mining, forestry and technology sector companies, and owned and operated his own investment company. In the mining sector, he was Executive Vice President of Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company, a subsidiary of Anglo American Corporation, and was Chair of Curragh Resources in the Yukon, and held other executive positions.

In the 1990's, after returning home to British Columbia , Ralph served as President of a joint venture with a major American corporation, engaged in the development of a fibreboard mill in Williams Lake.

Ralph was the Eagle Harbour Yacht Club executive secretary and was an Augustana Lutheran Church Councilor. He was Chair of the Financial Research Foundation (1984-1985), Chair, Queen's University Business School Advisory Committee (1981-84), Economic Council of Canada member (1979-83), and Harvard Business School fundraiser (1968-1994). Ralph arranged for the endowment of a UBC professorship in mining engineering (1990) and served on Harvard's Graduate School Arts & Science Advisory Committee (1993-1996). Ralph has received academic awards, including graduation from the Harvard Business School with High Distinction, UBC's Cayley Prize, the Engineering Institute of Canada Prize, Harvard's designation as Baker Scholar and Ford Foundation designation as Fellow. Ralph is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.

Born in 1933, Ralph was raised in a family of ten in the Mt. Pleasant District of East Vancouver. He has lived on Vancouver's North Shore since returning to B.C. His wife of 43 years, Shirley, a surgical nurse and rehabilitation clinic entrepreneur, died suddenly in 1999. He has four children and four grandchildren. He enjoys boating, skiing and gardening.